UH System Board of Regents Approves $1.6 Billion Budget for FY2014

The University of Houston
System (UHS) Board of Regents approved a $1.6 billion budget for fiscal year
(FY) 2014 that reflects its continuing commitment to student success and
national competitiveness initiatives.

The budget, which goes into
effect Sept. 1, was approved during the board’s quarterly meeting Wednesday.

The FY2014 budget, which
increased 5 percent from a year ago, includes $1.3 billion in operating
expenditures – approximately two-thirds of which will be dedicated to
supporting student success initiatives such as expanding resources and academic
offerings for its students. These expenditures also will include $149 million for
national competitiveness initiatives (a 24 percent increase over the past five
years).

During the past year, UHS
introduced 13 new degree programs, and 11 major construction projects are in
progress. These projects include residence halls, garages, research facilities
and a state-of-the-art football stadium.

The UH System consists of four
universities: the University of Houston (UH), UH-Clear Lake (UHCL), UH-Downtown
(UHD) and UH-Victoria (UHV). It also includes three branch campuses: UHCL
Pearland, UHS-Northwest and UH Sugar Land. Additionally, the system has one
multi-institutional teaching center, UHS Cinco Ranch.

Below is a breakdown of the
FY2014 budget:

UH – $1.2 billion: The University’s FY2014 budget provides an additional $22 million
to support student success initiatives aimed at enrollment and graduation rates.
These include expanded residence halls, additional scholarships, new course
offerings, added support staff (recruiters, advisers) and enhanced curriculum. As
part of its commitment to student success, UH is dedicating $3 million in
graduate tuition fellowships and stipends, and $2 million for need-based
financial aid. The University also will contribute an additional $21 million
toward national competitiveness efforts. These include hiring and retaining
faculty, developing new academic programs, supporting research infrastructure
projects (labs, equipment) and library enhancements. UH’s budget also includes $17
million for its infrastructure and administration. Among these initiatives are
retaining staff, expanding and improving campus parking, and hiring additional
security personnel.

UHCL - $112 million: UHCL transitions into a four-year university this fall. Its budget
includes an additional $6 million for student success initiatives as it
welcomes its first freshmen to campus. These include enhanced academic and
instructional support, additional scholarships and financial aid, and faculty
recruitment and retention. UHCL also will devote $1.5 million toward its
research excellence and national competitive objectives, which include strengthening
its teaching and research resources. UHCL also will apply $4 million to administration
and infrastructure projects including staff recruitment and retention,
construction, maintenance projects and campus computing.

UHD - $176 million: UHD’s budget includes an additional $9 million for its student success
initiatives. These include the recruitment and retention of faculty members,
additional scholarships, bolstered recruiting efforts and enhanced enrollment
services. UHD also will dedicate $2.5 million toward its national
competitiveness efforts, which include recruiting and retaining faculty and
staff.

UHV - $69 million: UHV’s budget includes an additional $3.4
million for student success initiatives that will accommodate its growing
enrollment. These include hiring new faculty members, recruiting and retaining
students, and improving graduation rates. Other student success initiatives
include the development of new academic programs and expanding distance
education and online curriculum. UHV also will contribute $250,000 toward
national competitiveness efforts including faculty salaries, support staff for
faculty research, and resources that will support accreditation initiatives.

The University of Houston System is a
comprehensive system of higher education institutions serving to further the
intellectual capital and economic strength of the Gulf Coast region. The UH
System includes the University of Houston, a nationally recognized Tier One
public research university; the University of Houston-Downtown, a four-year
undergraduate university expanding into graduate programs; the University
of Houston-Victoria, a four-year university with undergraduate and master’s
level degree programs; and the University of Houston- Clear Lake, an
upper-division and master’s level institution. The system also includes three
branch campuses, UH-Clear Lake Pearland, UH System - Northwest and UH Sugar
Land, as well as a multi-institution teaching center, UH System Cinco Ranch. In
addition, the System owns and operates Houston Public Media (HPM). HPM
comprises KUHF-FM, Houston’s National Public Radio station; KUHA-FM, Houston’s
24-hour classical music station; and KUHT-TV, the nation’s first educational
television station. To learn more about the UH System, visit http://www.uhsa.uh.edu/.